EXMNA has affiliates in Britain (LEMC: London Ex-Muslim Council and CEMB: Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain) and one of the LEMC head members has written a post on EXMNA about a project he's working on so that EXMNA might do something similar if we think it is a good idea.

He is taking Quran classes at an "inclusive" mosque (which is called the "gay mosque" by Muslims who disagree with the mosque because they accept gay Muslims). This mosque is very liberal and  allows gay Muslims to worship there, which is pretty unheard of in the Muslim world. By taking Qur'an classes there, he is learning more about his ex religion so that he can approach people who are in vulnerable positions and are on the edge of becoming ex-Muslim and need someone who is knowledgeable in both Islam and secularism to talk with. By taking classes at this inclusive mosque, he is also creating a tie with the Muslim world. After all, the aim is not to shun them or be shunned by them but to create connections and harmony between the two groups and support those Muslims who include all those Muslims who are shunned by the mainstream Islam.

This week we have been discussing the event I will throw for this class on EXMNA. Everyone isa really excited and some people are readily willing to participate and people even want me to film the event. The main concern we are having is whether I should invite the Muslim Student Association folks. On one hand, we believe they should know about EXMNA so there can be reduced animosity and more acceptance between the two groups, but on the other hand we have safety concerns.

Another big thing that has happened is that one of our members has come out as polyamorous. He believes he is capable of loving more that one gender/sex and multiple people at a time. Everyone has been really supportive to him. This has to do with our class for this week which was about gay rights (including LGBTQ) issues. It was awesome to read the words of advice and support offered to this member!

Week 7 blog post (late)

This week, we are helping a member who is afraid for her life. She is a junior in college in the US, but her and her family are here on a Visa which makes it hard for her to get a job or loans. Her family, especially her mother, is threatening to kill her and she doesn't know what to do. She is afraid to tell the police because that would make her the "bad guy" in the family and create more trouble, or worse: get sent back home to Abu Dhabi/get marred.

Members are trying to present solutions. They have offered her accommodation in various places where they're situated, but she is going to college and doesn't want to waste her semester which is paid for.
Other people have experience with information regarding the visa situation, so they are presenting some solutions regarding that. There are also suggestions she see the counselors at the international office at her university. The biggest advice they are giving her now is to take back what she's told her parents - that she made a mistake and is still Muslim. Taking her words back is something that could help her until she gains independence. 

Spring Break - extra post

One of our members (who ran away from home and her parents set Hezbollah to kidnap and torture her - she has gained asylum in the US since) has a blog documenting her life as an ex-Muslim and what she endured at her home country in Lebanon. When she was a teen, she was forced to undergo a test to see if she was still a virgin by her parents. They sent her to a gynecologist who routinely conducted the test (and basically broke her Hippocratic oath to take care of her patients) and in her blog the member has written about this experience.
If you have a blog, you can trace what Google search terms lead to your blog. The author of the blog shared a list of terms that led people to her blog in the last 30 days only. It is pretty sickening and sad how obsessed with "virginity" and virginity tests people are in that culture. The following is a link to the image with a list of the search terms. The commentary isn't by me but by the author of the blog:

http://i.imgur.com/kIjqYyT.png?1

Week 5

I waited til today to make my post because I wanted to publish on Women's Day. EXMNA compiled powerful testimonies from their women members about how they viewed their self worth and self image in an Islamic country of family and it was published today. I will post a few very moving quotes from the publication:

“When I was Muslim, I was called a “whore” or a “slut” from around the age of 10 for wanting to a classmate’s birthday party or stay at school past 3 pm to do after school activities. I didn’t even understand what sex was, and I thought of myself as a whore for wanting to do certain normal things. That means every time I had a thought in my head about wanting to attend a sleepover with my friends or join the soccer team at school and wear the shorts that came along with the uniform, I thought of myself as a whore. That’s very, very powerful.” – Taslima

"I need not feel shame. I had never thought of it consciously prior to leaving Islam, but as a woman I always sat with some shame – of my body and my voice, for example. I was always learning to hide myself. I could not be too outspoken, too bold. I am still struggling to let myself speak. And I still find myself thinking I am a burden. But I have lost so much shame. I realized there is no reason to hide myself. For who? For a man? For all men? Why? I refuse.” – Noura

"As a Muslim girl, one of the most traumatic experiences, that troubled my heart, nearly broke my spirit, made me ashamed of my female body, my female self, was that notorious saying of Muhammad standing on the footsteps of hell and proclaiming that most of the screams, and burning flesh were that of women. I asked my 12 year old self, what is it about women that makes her more deceitful, more disloyal to her god and his messenger than her brothers? Why did I have to be born within such a lascivious group? What a curse! Why does god damn some for eternity and endlessly reward others?” – Nandi

"Ten years ago, I thought of my body as a dirty, unfortunate vessel that just didn’t seem as perfect as that of a man. My mother used to shame me every time my period would come around. Even after I was disowned, I would shy away from my boyfriends and tuck away that dirty, bloody little secret. But recently, I've come to cherish the sheer beauty and complexity of the female human body.” – Maha

"I wear bright colors and let the skin drink those delicious, warm rays of the sun. No longer are the days that I fear that my father would punish me for wearing short sleeved shirts." – Maha 

Find the entire post here: http://www.exmna.org/mehfileskeptics/2014/03/08/self-worth-self-image-voices-exmuslim-women-solidarity-international-womens-day/

These posts were so moving. Even though (thankfully) I didn't have to endure these awful feelings, I know people who did and still do to this day. I am so happy that these women are more empowered and independent today and that they live a happy, fulfilling and free life. I am also very happy for all the support they give and receive to/from one another. Reading and writing these testimonials have been very therapeutic for everyone involved.  

Week 4

This week, a member who moved alone to the United States from a Middle Eastern Muslim country described to us just how liberating a small thing like taking a run in shorts and a tank for the first time and feeling the wind on your legs and arms felt. She could never even have imagined doing that in her country or even here if her family was here. She described how she took a walk at 10PM alone and felt so guilty as if she were doing something wrong, because at home or amongst family, something as simple as stepping out of the house is a big deal. The site and group provides the members so much support and when people share their small but significant milestones, it makes others come up and share their stories as well, bringing everyone closer to together. After her post, many people, especially the female members came forward and shared similar stories of liberation after they abandoned their faith, the veil, etc. Many came forward to say that Muslims will insist that they CHOOSE the veil and the hijab, but they felt that they were forced and it wasn't a choice. The group is such a great platform to relieve so many people of their stresses and guilt they have about doing something as innocent as talking an evening walk. The members all came forward and supported the original poster and let her know that there is absolutely nothing to be guilty of. I think this is such an important platform for us because we can support each other overcome hurdles, big and small.

Post 3

This week, a member is tired of living in the closet and is asking for advice on how to "come out" to her family about her ex-Muslim atheist status. She is concerned about her family's reaction (she asked what to do if they come out with "hangers and stuff to hit me or something") and is nervous to tell them, but  is getting increasing frustrated living in this way (she lives with her family) and having to be silent about who she really is. Basically, this girl doesn't have the right to be herself in her own home. She doesn't have the right to dress how she wants and say what she wants. She is nearly completely stripped of her civil right to express and be herself. 

What's buzzing:

A funny fatwa (a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority) has been passed by some Gulf imams (Islamic scholars/priests/authorities) and the EXMNA members are having a bit of a laugh about it. They have ruled that it is un-Islamic for Muslims to go to Mars!